By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is now finalizing show cause orders, which will be issued to public utility vehicle (PUV) operators who participated in the nationwide transport strike last February 27.
Atty. Jose Lamparero, spokesperson for LTFRB-Region VI (LTFRB-6), said they are looking to have the orders distributed in Bacolod within this week.
Lamparero assured operators they will be given due process, adding, if found meritorious and justifiable, they will dismiss the order.
He added they are in the process of collecting the necessary documents for the show cause order.
Under LTFRB Memorandum Circular No. 2011-004, PUV operators are not allowed to commit “acts prejudicial to the riding public by paralyzing transport services.”
Operators who violate the said order could face revocation of their franchise.
Last month, transport groups staged a protest over the Department of Transportation (DOTr) proposal to phase-out old PUVs and the planned introduction of excise tax on all petroleum products.
United Negros Drivers and Operators Center (UNDOC) Secretary-General Diego Malacad claimed they managed to cripple around 90 percent of the transport grid in the city./WDJ